JP2014010457A - Liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display capable of having a narrow frame.SOLUTION: A liquid crystal display includes a display area, and a shielding area that surrounds the display area. The shielding area includes a light-shielding layer adjacent to the sides of the display area, and a sealant application area adjacent to the sides of the light-shielding layer opposite to the display area; and the shielding area has the total light transmittance of approximately 0% or more and 50% or less, or equal to 50%.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display that can have a narrow border.

  Liquid crystal display (LCD) technology has been completely developed to replace the conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) imaging technology and is widely used in various electronic products. In general, an LCD can have a substrate having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween and a counter substrate. The liquid crystal layer can be sealed with a sealant. The sealant may be an adhesive that adheres and fixes the substrate to the counter substrate. The adhesive is usually an optical adhesive that can be cured by irradiation.

  The LCD usually includes a display area for displaying an image and a shielding area that functions as a frame. The picture frame is covered by a frame with the final LCD product. The shielding area can include a light shielding layer that shields the metal traces, prevents light leakage from the display area, and provides an area for coating the sealant. In general, the light shielding layer and the metal trace are formed on different substrates. With the continuous development of LCD and semiconductor technology, the width of metal traces and the pitch between them is constantly reduced. Thus, it is difficult for light irradiation to pass through the metal traces and harden the sealant. Thus, the sealant can be cured only by light irradiation from another substrate, but the light shielding layer of the other substrate may prevent the sealant from curing.

  New LCD trends include increasing the display area on the same size LCD while having a narrow frame for aesthetics. In order to meet the design requirements of a narrow frame, a narrow frame is necessary. However, the meaning of a narrow picture frame is that the available width of the shielding area is reduced. Therefore, if the width of the light shielding layer is not reduced together with the shielding region, the sealant cannot be completely cured by receiving sufficient light irradiation. Alternatively, when the width of the light shielding layer is also reduced together with the shielding area, the light shielding layer cannot effectively reflect the light leakage from the display area.

  Therefore, it is a problem to prevent light leakage effectively, to sufficiently mask a plurality of metal traces with a narrow frame design, and at the same time to completely cure the sealant. In other words, there is a need for a new LCD with a narrow frame design in which the sealant is fully cured and the problems of light leakage and insufficient masking are solved.

  A liquid crystal display capable of having a narrow frame is provided.

  By reducing the total light transmission in the sealant application area, a new LCD with a narrow frame design is provided in which the sealant is fully cured, solving the problems of light leakage and insufficient masking.

  The present invention includes a display region and a shielding region surrounding the display region, the shielding region includes a light shielding layer adjacent to the side of the display region, and a sealant application region adjacent to the side of the light shielding layer opposite to the display region, The shielding area provides a liquid crystal display having a total light transmittance of about 0 to 50% or equal to 50%.

  The present invention also provides a liquid crystal display including a display area and a shielding area surrounding the display area, the shielding area having a total light transmittance equal to or greater than about 0 to 50%, or about 50%. A first substrate including a pixel electrode and a plurality of metal traces disposed thereon, the pixel electrode being disposed in the display region, and the plurality of metal traces being disposed in the shielding region and connected to the pixel electrode; A light-shielding layer and a counter electrode disposed on the light-shielding layer, the light-shielding layer being disposed in the light-shielding region, adhering the second substrate adjacent to the side of the display region, the first substrate, and the second substrate, to the sealant application region It is arranged and surrounds the side of the light shielding layer facing the display area, and the sealant application area is sandwiched between the sealant in the shielding area and the first substrate and the second substrate, and is surrounded by the sealant. Sealed Te a liquid crystal layer.

The detailed description is described in the following embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 represents a top view of an LCD according to an embodiment of the invention. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of an LCD according to an embodiment of the invention. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of an LCD according to an embodiment of the invention. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of an LCD according to an embodiment of the invention.

  In the following description, the best mode for carrying out the present invention is disclosed. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention. For example, the formation of the first feature over, above, below, or the second feature of the second feature of the present description is followed by the feature being formed in direct contact. A plurality of embodiments, and additional features may be formed between the first and second features such that the features are not in direct contact. The scope of the invention is determined with reference to the appended claims.

  Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 represents a top view of an LCD 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the LCD 100 can have a display area Z1 and a shielding area Z2 surrounding the display area Z1. The shielding region Z2 can include a light shielding layer 114 and a sealant application region 110A. The shielding area Z2 may have a total light transmittance of about 0 to 50%. The light shielding layer 114 can be surrounded adjacent to the display area Z1. In each embodiment of the present invention, the light shielding layer 114 can be defined as a layer formed of a light shielding material capable of blocking light, so that the passage of light cannot be observed with the naked eye of the user. For example, the light blocking layer 114 can have an optical density greater than about 3.5. The sealant application region 110A can surround the side of the light shielding layer 114 facing the display region Z1. The sealant can be applied to the sealant application area 110A. The sealant and the substrate can have a contact width that is substantially equal to the width of the sealant application area 110A. In the embodiment, the sealant application region 110A further includes other materials capable of reducing the light transmittance, such as a color filter of each color, a photoresist having a mechanical support function, and an opaque metal layer.

  The sealant application region 110 </ b> A may have a total light transmittance that is smaller than or substantially equal to the light transmittance of the light shielding layer 114. For example, in the embodiment, each material (including the sealant) of the sealant application region 110A may have a total light transmittance of about 0 or more and 50% or less, or equal to 50%, or the light absorption of the light shielding layer 114. About 50% to 100% of the total light absorption. In addition, the light shielding layer 114 and the sealant application region 110A have an overall width of less than about 5 mm and can meet the current requirements for narrow frames. It should be noted that the above-described total width of the light shielding layer and the sealant application region are merely illustrative embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make appropriate changes according to the technology at that time.

  Therefore, by reducing the total light transmittance of each material in the sealant application region, light leakage due to a narrow width of the light shielding layer and an insufficient mask problem are solved. Further, the sealant itself has a sufficiently large area to receive light irradiation and provides a sufficient adhesive force. Sealant reliability and LCD reliability are improved.

  Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an LCD 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A top view of the LCD 200 is shown in FIG. For example, the LCD 200 can have a display area Z1 and a shielding area Z2 surrounding the display area Z1.

  The LCD 200 can include a first substrate 202, a second substrate 204, and a liquid crystal layer 206. The second substrate 204 and the first substrate 202 can be placed facing each other and are cured with an adhesive by a sealant 210. The liquid crystal layer 206 can be sandwiched between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204. The sealant 210 surrounds the periphery of the liquid crystal layer 206. In an embodiment, the first substrate can be a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and includes an electrode 230, at least one TFT 232, and a plurality of metal traces 218 disposed on a glass substrate. The electrode 230 and the at least one TFT 232 can each have at least a portion disposed in the display region Z1. The electrode 230 can be a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode can be a transparent electrode layer comprising indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or zinc aluminum oxide (AZO). The plurality of metal traces 218 can be disposed in the shielding region Z2. The plurality of metal traces 218 can electrically connect various components such as the electrode 230 of the display area Z1 to an external circuit such as an input / output. The plurality of metal traces 218 can be formed of metal or any other conductive material.

  The second substrate 204 can include a color filter 206 and a counter electrode 244 disposed on the glass substrate. The color filter 242 is disposed in the display area Z1 and can correspond to the pixel electrode 230 on the first substrate 202. In some embodiments, the black matrix 246 can be disposed between the color filters 242 of different colors. The counter electrode 244 can be covered with the color filter 242. In the embodiment, the light shielding layer 214 is disposed in the shielding region Z2 on the second substrate 204 and can be surrounded adjacent to the display region Z1. In some embodiments, the light blocking layer 214 may have a width less than about 5 mm and a thickness less than about 3 μm. The light blocking layer 214 can include a material having an optical density greater than about 3.5. For example, the light shielding layer 214 can be formed of one or more layers of black ink, a colored photoresist, a black photoresist, a polarizing plate, or a combination thereof.

  The sealant application area 210 </ b> A is disposed outside the light shielding layer 214 and can receive light irradiation. The sealant 210 may be applied to the sealant application region 210 </ b> A so as to surround the light shielding layer 214 and the liquid crystal layer 206. In an embodiment, the sealant can be an optical adhesive having a light transmission that is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 50%, or substantially equal to 50%. Further, the sealant can have a light absorption of about 50% to 100% of the light absorption of the light shielding layer 214. In an exemplary embodiment, the sealant 210 may include a colored epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, a urethane (poly (acrylate)), a phenol resin, and a carbon powder. The sealant 210 can itself have a low light transmittance. In addition, the sealant 210 may have a low light transmittance by being doped with other materials such as opaque metal particles, opaque ceramic particles, or opaque plastic particles. In embodiments, the sealant 210 can cover at least some metal traces 218 and be in direct contact with the metal traces 218. To prevent the formation of electrical connections between the plurality of metal traces 218 on the first substrate 202 and the counter electrode 244, the sealant 210 can be formed of an insulating material. The sealant 210 can also include a conductive material such as metal particles doped therein with a content of 3 wt% or less of the sealant 210, for example. Since the sealant 210 functions as a light-shielding layer that masks the plurality of metal traces 218 due to its low light transmittance, it is not easy for the user to observe the plurality of metal traces 218, and light leakage from the display region Z1 is also caused. Can be reflected. In some embodiments, each of the materials of the shielding region Z2 can have a light transmittance of 0 or more and 50% or less, or substantially equal to 50%, so that the shielding region Z2 is 0 or more and 50% or less, Or it can have a total light transmission substantially equal to 50%.

  In an embodiment, the sealant 210 and the substrate may have a contact width that is substantially equal to the width of the sealant application area 210A, for example, between about 0.3 mm and 5 mm. In addition, the sealant 210 and the light shielding layer 214 may have a total width of about 0.3 mm to 5 mm. The above-described widths are merely illustrative embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make appropriate changes according to the technology at that time.

  Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the LCD 300. A top view of the LCD 300 is shown in FIG. For example, the LCD 300 can have a display area Z1 and a shielding area Z2 surrounding the display area Z1. In addition, the LCD 300 may further include a color filter or another feature that can further reduce the light transmittance of the sealant application region by reducing the light transmittance. In this embodiment, like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements.

  The LCD 300 can include a first substrate 202, a second substrate 204, and a liquid crystal layer 206. The second substrate 204 and the first substrate 202 can be placed facing each other and are cured with an adhesive by a sealant 210. The liquid crystal layer 206 can be sandwiched between the first substrate 202 and the second substrate 204. The sealant 210 surrounds the periphery of the liquid crystal layer 206. In embodiments, the first substrate can be a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and can include an electrode 230, at least one TFT 232, and a plurality of metal traces 218. Electrode 230, at least one TFT 232, and a plurality of metal traces 218 are disposed on a glass substrate. The electrode 230 and the at least one TFT 232 may each be at least partially disposed in the display region Z1. The electrode 230 can be a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode can be a transparent electrode layer comprising indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or zinc aluminum oxide (AZO). The plurality of metal traces 218 can be disposed in the shielding region Z2. The plurality of metal traces 218 can electrically connect various components such as the electrode 230 of the display area Z1 to an external circuit such as an input / output. The plurality of metal traces 218 can be formed of metal or any other conductive material.

  The second substrate 204 can include a color filter 342 and a counter electrode 244. The color filter 342 and the counter electrode 244 are disposed on the glass substrate. The color filter 342 is disposed in the display region Z1 and can correspond to the pixel electrode 230 on the first substrate 202. Further, the color filter 342 can be further extended to the sealant application region 210A of the shielding region Z2. In other words, in addition to the sealant 210, the color filter 342 is disposed between the sealant 210 and the second substrate 342 in the sealant application region 210A. In an embodiment, the color filter 342 in the sealant application region 210A may have a width that is less than or substantially equal to the width of the sealant application region 210A. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, since the color filter 342 in the sealant application area 210A can have a width smaller than the width of the sealant application area 210A, the shielding area Z2 has a gradually reduced light transmittance. Can have. For example, the light transmittance of the shielding area Z2 decreases as it approaches the display area Z1.

  It should be noted that FIG. 3 only shows that the color filter 342 extends from the display area Z1 through the light shielding layer 214 to the sealant application area 210A. 342 can be individually arranged in the display area Z1 and the sealant application area 210A without passing through the light shielding layer 214. For example, since the color filter 342 in the sealant application area 210A need not correspond to the pixel electrode 230, it may have any color and is formed of one or more layers of the same or different color filters. Can. In addition, other materials that can reduce the light transmittance, such as a polarizing plate, may be disposed in the sealant application region 210A. In this embodiment, the sealant 210 and the color filter 342 can have a total light transmittance of 0 to 50%, or substantially equal to 50%, or about 50% to about 50% of the light absorption of the light blocking layer 214. It can have 100% total light absorption. Further, each of the materials of the shielding region Z2 can have a light transmittance substantially equal to or greater than 0 and 50%, or 50%, so that the shielding region Z2 is equal to or greater than 0 and 50% or less, or 50%. It can have substantially the same total light transmittance. In this embodiment, the choice of sealant material can be more flexible because there are other materials that can help reduce light transmission. For example, the sealant can be doped with a small amount of particles to reduce the cost of the product and improve its performance.

  Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the LCD 400. A top view of the LCD 400 is shown in FIG. For example, in this embodiment, the LCD 400 can have a display area Z1 and a shielding area Z2 surrounding the display area Z1. In this embodiment, what is described is a color filter on array (COA) type LCD, however, it will be understood that it does not limit the scope of the invention. For example, the LCD 400 may be other types of LCDs, such as a black matrix on array (BOA) type LCD, a multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA) type LCD, a photo-alignment type LCD, and a nano-protrusion multi-type. It can also be used for a domain vertical alignment (NPMVA) type LCD. In this embodiment, like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements.

  The LCD 400 can include a first substrate 202, a second substrate 204, and a liquid crystal layer 206. The second substrate 204 and the first substrate 202 can be placed facing each other and are cured with an adhesive by a sealant 210. The sealant 210 surrounds the periphery of the liquid crystal layer 206. In an embodiment, the first substrate 202 can be a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and includes an electrode 230, at least one TFT 232, a color filter 442, and a plurality of metal traces 218. The electrode 230, at least one TFT 232, the color filter 442, and the plurality of metal traces 218 are disposed on the glass substrate. The electrode 230, the at least one TFT 232, and the color filter 442 can be disposed at least in the display region Z1. The electrode 230 can be a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode can be a transparent electrode layer comprising indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), or zinc aluminum oxide (AZO). The plurality of metal traces 218 can be disposed in the shielding region Z2. Also, at least some of the metal traces 218 can be disposed in the sealant application area 210A. The color filter 442 is disposed between the electrode 230 and the glass substrate and can correspond to the electrode 230.

  In addition, other materials that can reduce the light transmittance, such as a color filter (not shown), may be disposed in the sealant application region 210A. The sealant application area 210A may have a total light transmittance of 0 to about 50%, or substantially equal to 50%, or a total light absorption of about 50% to 100% of the light absorption of the light shielding layer 214. And provides the same function as the light shielding layer 214.

  Although the electrode 230 and the counter electrode 244 formed on a different substrate have been described in the previous embodiments, the electrode arrangement according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the electrode 230 and the other electrode may be formed on the same substrate to form an in-plane switching (IPS) type LCD.

  Therefore, by reducing the total light transmittance of each material in the sealant application region, light leakage due to a narrow width of the light shielding layer and an insufficient mask problem are solved. Further, the sealant itself has a sufficiently large area to receive light irradiation and provides a sufficient adhesive force. Sealant reliability and LCD reliability are improved.

  While this invention has been described in terms of example methods and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, various changes and similar arrangements are covered. Accordingly, the appended claims are to be accorded the broadest interpretation and should include all such modifications and similar arrangements.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Liquid crystal display device 110A Sealant application area | region 114 Light shielding layer 200 Liquid crystal display device 202 1st board | substrate 204 2nd board | substrate 206 Liquid crystal layer 210 Sealant 210A Sealant application area | region 214 Light shielding layer 218 Metal trace 230 1st electrode 232 Thin film transistor (TFT) Array substrate 242 Color filter 244 Second electrode 246 Black matrix 300 Liquid crystal display device 342 Color filter 400 Liquid crystal display device 442 Color filter Z1 Display region Z2 Shielding region

Claims (19)

A display area, and a shielding area surrounding the display area.
A light shielding layer adjacent to the side of the display region, and a sealant application region adjacent to the side of the light shielding layer opposite to the display region,
The liquid crystal display, wherein the shielding region has a total light transmittance of about 0 to 50% or 50%. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, further comprising an electrode in the display area and a sealant disposed in the sealant application area.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, further comprising a color filter disposed on the electrode.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of metal traces disposed in the shielding area, wherein the plurality of metals and the race are electrically connected to the electrode by the sealant and covered by the sealant.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 4, wherein the sealant directly contacts the plurality of metal traces.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, further comprising a color filter of each color disposed in the sealant application region, a photoresist having a mechanical support function, an opaque metal layer, or a combination thereof.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 6, wherein the shielding region has a gradually reduced light transmittance.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 2, wherein the sealant includes epoxy resin, acrylic resin, polyacrylic urethane, carbon powder, or a combination thereof of each color.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 8, wherein the sealant is doped with metal particles, ceramic particles, plastic particles, or a combination thereof.   2. The liquid crystal display according to claim 1, wherein the sealant region has a light transmittance of not less than 0 and not more than 50%, or equal to 50%, and has a total light absorption of about 50% to 100% of a total light absorption of the light shielding layer. . A display area and a shielding area surrounding the display area, the shielding area having a total light transmittance equal to or greater than about 0 to 50% or about 50%, and the liquid crystal display includes:
A pixel electrode and a plurality of metal traces disposed thereon, wherein the pixel electrode is disposed in the display region, and the plurality of metal traces are disposed in the shielding region and connected to the pixel electrode. A first substrate,
A second substrate including a light shielding layer and a counter electrode disposed thereon, the light shielding layer being disposed in the shielding region and adjacent to a side of the display region;
Curing the first substrate and the second substrate with an adhesive, disposed in a sealant application region, surrounding a side of a light shielding layer facing the display region, the sealant application region being a sealant in the shielding region; and A liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounded and sealed by the sealant.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 11, further comprising a color filter adjacent to the counter electrode.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 12, wherein the color filter is disposed in the sealant application region.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 13, wherein the shielding region has a gradually reduced light transmittance.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 11, further comprising a color filter adjacent to the pixel electrode.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of metal traces are covered by the light shielding layer and the sealant.   The liquid crystal display of claim 16, wherein the plurality of metal traces and the sealant are in direct contact with each other.   The liquid crystal display according to claim 11, wherein the sealant includes epoxy resin, acrylic resin, urethane polyacrylate, carbon powder, or a combination thereof of each color, and is doped with metal particles, ceramic particles, plastic particles, or a combination thereof. . The liquid crystal display according to claim 11, wherein the sealant region has a light transmittance of not less than 0 and not more than 50%, or equal to 50%, and has a total light absorption of about 50% to 100% of a total light absorption of the light shielding layer. .

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